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English is the world’s unofficial international language. With all due respect to the advocates of Esperanto, English is the language which is used across the board. Perhaps, in time, Esperanto will have its day in the sun, but for now, it is English – any way you look at it.

In this day and age, when so much of our communication is electronic and device-based (an idea which in itself carries a lot of baggage, for better or worse), it is imperative to cover your proverbial butt, and make sure that nothing leaves your device unchecked. Obviously people make mistakes, but sometimes all it takes is a single type or grammatical error to make or break you in the eyes of your peers. It is precisely because it is so easy to communicate nowadays, that having a writing enhancer / spellchecker / grammar checker is more important than ever. Enter: WhiteSmoke.

WhiteSmoke Desktop Premium

WhiteSmoke – the company – was founded in 2002 by Hilla and Liran Brenner, a couple which was interested in bridging the gaps between native speakers and non-native speakers.

As a side note, I feel this product has one of the most apt taglines of any writing-enhancement software: Just Write. This is what WhiteSmoke is, in a nutshell. It is a piece of software designed to make your writing flow effortlessly, and to also enrich and improve your writing skills in the process.

15 years after it was formed, the company continues to offer help for those who are in need of it. But software such as WhiteSmoke is not only for those who are struggling with written English, but also for those who want their text to come across as a professional, clear, and coherent piece of writing. WhiteSmoke offers several versions of its software, and the most famous of which is its flagship product – the WhiteSmoke Desktop Premium.

By the way, I am not taking prices into account in this review. Obviously, it is an important factor, but since money is such a subjective and personal issue, I will let you deal with it on your end! Also, it has no real effect on the actual software’s performance, so I feel it has no business being in a practical review.

WhiteSmoke Products Overview

WhiteSmoke Desktop Premium: A fully integrated writing solution, which installs onto your computer, and works with Windows. A Mac version is on its way, according to the company. Desktop Premium also provides the user with WhiteSmoke Web (it’s web-based brother).

WhiteSmoke Web: A “lighter” version of the WhiteSmoke Desktop, accessible through your web-browser. Here there is no installation needed, and it works on any computer with an internet connection.

WhiteSmoke Mobile: An app available for smartphones and tablets. Also available in a Pro version, which features a translator as well as tutorials on writing.

WhiteSmoke Desktop Premium Review

WhiteSmoke Desktop Premium

Any time you need to input text, in any text editor, you can choose to open the WhiteSmoke Writer interface and go over it. WhiteSmoke offers a desktop application which is customizable, and it lets you edit directly from Microsoft Word and Outlook (and Notepad, for you old-school writers!) with the push of a button. It works with any ordinary text box, but an internet connection is necessary for the program to function. Some consider this to be a downside to the software, but I found that you can find a connection pretty much anywhere where you would potentially need to write, so it isn’t that big of deal for me, personally.

WhiteSmoke Desktop checks for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, but unfortunately does not offer a way to check for plagiarism. The algorithms which WhiteSmoke uses are highly advanced, which is why it needs an internet connection to operate.

Desktop is easy to use and convenient to work with. Applying changes from the WhiteSmoke Writer to your writing application is as easy as clicking on “apply changes”, and boom! – your text is that much cleaner and more professional. I found the Desktop version to be the most helpful of all the WhiteSmoke products, and it is a welcome addition to any computer system where English is being used and written.

WhiteSmoke Web Review

WhiteSmoke Web Review

WhiteSmoke Web is precisely that – WhiteSmoke online. Your browser provides the primary interface, and the web-based WhiteSmoke platform retains all of the core features of the Desktop version: grammar, spelling, style, and punctuation are all cleared up and improved. The bonus here is that no installation is required, and that it can work on any computer, with any operating system.

The Web version is a little different in that sense, but after some time using it, you will easily get the hang of it. A lot of our on-the-fly communication is done online, which is why Web is a great option for those who don’t feel they need an integrated piece of writing software, other than the word processor they are using.

As for the platform itself, it definitely kept the best of the Desktop version. Proper online correspondence is absoutely essential for some people, and the WhiteSmoke Web is a great way to make that happen.

WhiteSmoke Mobile App Review

WhiteSmoke Mobile App

This app is very similar to the previous two versions, but its speed and power also depend on your tablet/smartphone, and on the amount of space/data stored on your device, etc. There is also the Pro version of the app, which features a translator and different videos on proper English. Looking to take your grammar on the go? This is a great solution. Being able to get things done when on the move is essential, and if you don’t need the Pro version, the regular one will suffice for just about anything that comes up.

There isn’t much to review here, really. It works, and it is very helpful for tablet/smartphone writers. Whatever and whenever you write, do yourself a favor and get into the habit of running it through the WhiteSmoke app. It can save you from plenty of awful mistakes. Trust me.

WhiteSmoke Chrome Extension Review

Google Chrome Logo

WhiteSmoke’s Chrome companion allows you to check and translate your text directly within any new tab on Chrome. It performs very well, and it has a very nice appearence, but some anti-malware and anti-virus programs have issues with it. This is why I am not a fan of this extension, personally. There are other extensions which are better, in my opinion. Furthermore, the extension isn’t being updated anymore, if I am not mistaken, so I looked for a different one. Nothing wrong with WhiteSmoke, though. It gets the job done right.

WhiteSmoke vs. Grammarly

Grammarly

WhiteSmoke’s main rival is Grammarly, and rightly so. These are two tours de force of writing, and both can be used to elevate and improve pretty much any text, whether online or offline. There is no one program which is outstandably better. Both of these help to make your texts clearer and more professional, and both of these pieces of software have the potential for turning you into a better writer over time. Obviously, you could use them as a spellchecker and nothing more, but then you would be missing out on the other benefits. These types of programs can help you notice your mistakes, and make you more aware of the way that you are expressing yourself. If you pay attention – and if you are so inclined – your writing will begin to improve.

Grammarly also has some very unique features – including a plagiarism checker, by the way – and it highly recommended you choose the one which you are most comfortable with. Both of these programs are updated regularly, I believe, and are influenced by user feedback. The artificial intelligence which these enhancers use is very advanced, and it helps your writing flow a lot more smoothly once you start using them.

Conclusion

Whether it is for school, for work, or for your own personal advancement, acquiring and using a writing enhancement software can seriously change the way in which you present yourself to the world. You can tell a lot about a person from the way he or she writes. I truly believe that, which is why I know that getting WhiteSmoke will be able to get you where you need to go. There are other programs out there, and by all means, give them a shot too. That way, you will end up with a writer which really does fit you, your needs, and your desires for the written future!